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Bollywood on Hulu?

This might be old news, but I've had a houseguest since Monday and am way behind on the internet in general: looking to see if I missed a new episode of Bones last week, I noticed that Deewana is now available on hulu.com. So are Hera Pheri, Sarkar, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke (which I've never even heard of), and Hulchul (a movie whose number one fan might well be me). Wow! Or do I mean "Huh?" It strikes me as a weird collection: one SRK before he was SRK, a wackadoodle comedy the average hulu viewer will probably be totally confused by, a Bachchan duo version of a story very familiar to the average hulu viewer, an Abhi-Aish (let's be honest, probaby more an Aish-Abhi), and a wackadoodle family feud. Three have Amrish Puri. I'm wildly curious about the selection criteria. Does anyone know the story beyond this?

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Hulu hates me because I am not in America...But maybe the movie choice was formed based on what Saavn have rights to? Its an odd selection but maybe an oldie, a classic and a comedy are their sample to test the waters.

I just noticed this turn of events last night. It is a fortunate one as I've been told to stay off my feet for two days. As the boredom set in, I turned to Hulu. Wooo! It'll be a oddball selection of Bollywood movies for me.

What is interesting is that in the comments about the movies people comment on the odd selection.

if you just do a search for bollywood on hulu, you get a bunch of oddball clips such as this... http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6a8b4bc6e0/mccain-and-palin-campaign-bollywood-music-video-style-from-brandon-muller

As Temple says, it's what Saavn has to offer. They apparently have big plans for it though and according to Anne Thompson over at Variety, they're hoping to replicate the kind of Bolly-success they experienced over at Netflix. Except Netflix wasn't offering a fine collection of the lamest Ash movies ever made.

Aww, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke -- I can't really argue that it isn't terrible and derivative, but it's terrible and derivative in hilarious, hilarious ways. And the songs are actually (to my uncultured ear) pretty good -- or at least catchy and fun or tragic as appropriate. There's definitely some WTF-ery (the statue couple? the incontinent child? the extended non-joke about the very large family of people who cannot walk smoothly? WTF?), but I still hold that it has the best. wedding. fight. EVER. Also, Amrish Puri at his fire-breathing, bulgy-eyed, over-the-top best.

OK, I admit it. I love this movie. Beth, perhaps you could watch it some day when you're in a mood to appreciate absurdity and do a review?

I have no idea what Hulu is, or didn't before this, but I would like to thank you because we just rented Deewana and it doesn't have subtitles, and THIS DOES, and you just totally fixed our evening. Thank you!

The films were selected for a few reasons: 1. the appeal to a larger audience. We chose derivative titles like Sarkar because a Hulu audience can relate to it. 2. Yes, we do indeed own the rights but this is such a new platform, it fell out of the usual agreements 3. we chose classics hits and stars that would appeal to Bollywood fans.

Wow! Great to have an official answer, though I think some of the Bollywood-knowledgeable blogosphere would disagree that some of these titles are likely to appeal to the wider Hulu audience or that any of these films (possibly excepting Hera Pheri)is a "classic hit." I definitely get Sarkar; in addition to its familiar plot, it's a great way to introduce new audiences to the Big B.